What are electric conductors and Insulators ?

The electrons of different kinds of atoms have different degrees of freedom to move around different materials. The flexible movement of electrons within a material is known as electric conductivity. So, a conductor is an element that allows the flow of electricity. We can take copper as an example of conductor and explain how it allows the flow of electricity through it. There are total 29 electrons and 29 protons in copper. Electricity is the flow of electrons, in copper there is only one electron in its valance ring. The single electron is loosely bonded to the atom and it can be removed from it making it a good conductor. If there is a wire made up of millions of copper atoms to simply conduct electricity we require to add one electron to one of the copper atoms that atom will shed the electron it had and the neighboring atoms will continue the same thing. The movement of electrons will cause a force to be released that is known an electric force.

Therefore good conductors of electricity have only one or two electrons in their valence ring. These atoms can be made to give up the electrons in their valence ring with little effort. Copper and silver are examples of good conductors.

Insulators are materials that don’t allow electrons or electric current to flow through them easily. Insulators are atoms that have five to eight electrons in their valence ring. The electrons are held tightly around the atom’s nucleus and they can’t be moved easily. Insulators are used to prevent electron flow or to contain it within a conductor. Most solid materials are categorized as insulators because they offer very large resistance to the flow of electric current.

Here are a few common examples of conductors and insulators:

Conductors:

silver

copper

gold

aluminum

iron

steel

brass

bronze

mercury

graphite

dirty water

concrete

Insulators:

glass

rubber

oil

asphalt

fiberglass

porcelain

ceramic

quartz

(dry) cotton

(dry) paper

(dry) wood

plastic

air

diamond

pure water